Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 20 of the National Premier Leagues Northern NSW Women’s competition.
Match of the Round: Broadmeadow Magic FC 4-0 Charlestown Azzurri FC
Broadmeadow Magic claim the premiership after defeating Charlestown Azzurri 4-0 on Friday evening.
Magic had to get three points form the match in order to win the premiership this weekend and Jake Curley’s side did just that with a strong team performance.
Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Broadmeadow’s attacker Lucy Jerram was pivotal assisting goals and creating chances for her side. The competition's leading goal scorer Adrianna Konjarski opened the scoring for the match in the sixth minute after Lucy Jerram sprinted down the pitch to win the ball and cross it to Konjaski’s feet in front of goal.
Chelsea Lucas doubled her side’s advantage after a spectacular through ball from Jannali Hunter and striking it on the volley into the back of the net.
Azzurri were unable to respond in the first half, and things continued to go against them in the second stanza when Sarah Halvorsen hit a crossed ball into the back of her own net, giving the home side a 3-0 advantage.
Magic continued to pile on the pressure, with Azzurri unable to break through the defence.
Konjarski was able to net her second goal of the evening with the assistance form Jerram again crossing the ball into her in front of goal.
Curley was thrilled to claim both three points and the premiership all in one afternoon.
“The girls are happy that we won the premiership. It was good to do it after playing the three other top four teams in a row,” Curley said.
“It is a good experience for the girls. I am very pleased. To be the team that is the most consistent over the year is very important and I am very glad that we have been able to do it this year. I think being a top four side and winning the premiership is good confidence for the girls.
“I think the club are very excited for us and for what their women's program has achieved.”
Curley was pleased how his side has excelled over the past few rounds and is especially happy with their attacking performances.
“I think our front four players are going really well at the moment,” Curley said.
“We have been very good in the last few weeks at finishing the chances that we have created.”
The newly crowned premiers will look to continue their winning momentum in the final round of the competition when they travel to John Street Oval to take on the team at the other end of the table Warners Bay.
Azzurri will be looking to bounce back and amend their form ahead of finals when they host Newcastle Olympic.
Warners Bay FC 0-14 New Lambton FC
Warners Bay were unable to find their first points of the season, going down to New Lambton 0-14 at John Street Oval.
Despite their finals hopes being over, New Lambton came out to win on Sunday, smothering the Panthers and giving them no chance to respond.
The Golden Eagles were able to open the scoring in the fifth minute, with a breakaway play that allowed Cass Davis to feed the ball across to Ameera Makunja, who sliced the ball into the back of the net.
Makunja struck again in the twelfth minute, after Warners Bay’s goalkeeper cleared the ball straight into her own player, allowing the ball to bounce free and into the feet of Makunja who made no mistake to convert the opportunity in front of goal.
Tara Andrews took New Lambton’s lead to 0-3 in the 21st minute, running through Warners Bay defenders and striking the ball into the goal.
Davis was able to get herself on the scoresheet three minutes later before assisting Makunja to complete her hattrick just before half-time.
New Lambton did not take their foot off the gas in the second half with Andrews securing her hattrick, scoring two goals in two minutes before assisting Davis t her second goal in the 58th minute.
The Golden Eagles continued to extend their lead thanks to Makunja and Andrews, both scoring three more goals apiece to round out the score to 0-14.
Both sides will be hoping to finish their seasons on a high with one round remaining. Warners Bay will host on premiers Broadmeadow Magic while New take on Mid Coast.
Newcastle Olympic FC 9-1 Adamstown Rosebud JFC
It was the perfect homecoming to Darling Street Oval for Newcastle Olympic, defeating Adamstown Rosebud 9-1 .
Olympic had faced a long stint of away games due to construction at their home ground but returned in style with a dominant performance.
Adamstown were eager to pick up some points, after missing out on a spot in finals but Olympic proved too strong with Rosebud having few answers.
Olympic’s midfielder Elodie Dagg opened the scoring in the sixth minute of the afternoon after several defensive mistakes gifted her the ball in front of the goal.
In the 32nd minute, Dagg was given her second opportunity in front of goal after being awarded a penalty for being taken down in the penalty area. She calmly converted from the spot, doubling her side’s advantage
Olympic were able to extend their lead again just a minute later when Dagg put House in behind her defender to strike the ball outside the 18-yard box and into the back of the net.
Shortly after play resumed in the second half, Olympic got themselves on the scoreboard again thanks to Marion Dunbabin. House won the ball from Rosebud’s Leia Puxty to run the ball down the pitch and cross the ball for Dunbabin to head into the goal.
Within eight minutes Olympic scored three more goals as Georgia Amess put herself on the scoresheet once and Dagg netted a double.
Rosebud were able to scrap a goal back as Charlotte O’Connor knocked the ball into the back of the net off a corner kick.
But Olympic were not done as House scored her second of the afternoon in the 87th minute and a minute later substitution Brooke Summers hit the back of the net.
Olympic’s coach Neil Owens was impressed with his side’s efforts and praised midfielder Dagg, after another stellar performance.
“To the girl’s credit, they got the job done,” Owens said.
“The patience was really good, we moved the ball around nicely and scored some really good goals.
“Elodie stood out again, she got four goals and was outstanding.”
Olympic will now shift their focus to their last game before heading into finals, travelling to Lisle Carr Oval to take on Charlestown Azzurri.
Adamstown will hope to bounce back and finish their year on a high, when they take on Maitland in the final game of the season.
Maitland FC 5-0 Mid Coast FC
The Magpies swooped back into the winning circle after defeating Mid Coast 5-0 on Sunday afternoon.
Maitland were able to bounce back from their recent losses in Round 19 and the Women’s League Cup Final, getting off to a dream start, scoring in the first 15 seconds.
Lucy Kell pressed Mid Coast off the kick-off, winning the ball and passing it through to Sophie Stapleford who steamed down the line and drove into the box to slice the ball into the goal.
Mid Coast were unable to keep the ball with frustrations getting the better of them after Sarah King pulled Magpies Indianna Auddino, resulting in a penalty. Stapleford calmly converted from the spot, securing her second goal of the afternoon.
Maitland’s pressure continued to suffocate Mid Coast’s defense, with Kell capitalising and taking the score to 3-0. Kell intercepted a weak pass from Kirsten Morn, to launch the ball from outside the penalty box and over goalkeeper Grace Davies reach and into the back of the net.
The Magpies were able to extend their lead again before half-time. Madison Gallegos thought she had got herself on the scoresheet, heading the ball toward the top of the net off a corner kick, but Davies denied the shot before Auddino was able to tap the ball into the back of the net.
Mid Coast came out with more grit in the second half, applying more pressure on the Magpies and conceding only one additional goal.
Kell got her second goal of the evening, receiving a suburb ball over the top from Emily Wicks to beat the last defender and fire into the goal.
Maitland’s coach Keelan Hamilton was pleased with his side’s ability to bounce back after two tough losses and playing a lot of minutes in previous games.
“I think it was a professional performance. It’s nice to get back into the winner's circle,” Hamilton said.
“The thing I was most pleased was the mentality to put themselves out there, work hard and get the result.
“We started really positively and managed the game really effectively.”
Maitland will be eager to continue their momentum into the final week of the regular season against Adamstown and into the club’s first ever final series in the competition.
Mid Coast will be looking to end their season on a positive note as they take on New Lambton in their final match of the season.